Steam-generator



Tf1. MCDONALD.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPUcATmN F1150l JULY 19. |920.

Patented June 14, 1921.

T. 1. MCDONALD. STEAM GENERATOR. APPLICATION FLEDJULY19|920 1,381,481Patented June 14, 1921n 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@noem/toa Thomas L7M-Spam@ www UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

THOMAS J. MGDONALD, 0F BLUE RIDGE, GEORGIA.

STEAM-GENERATOR.

Application filed July 19,

To all w hom t may conce-m Be it known that 1, THOMAS J. MODON- ALD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Blue Ridge, in the county ofFannin and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful improvementsin Steam-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in steam generators and isparticularly designed for such generators :as are employed with motorvehicles.

The particular object of the invention is to provide a generator of thetype referred to, which will be relatively light in weight, compact randthe parts of which may be readily removed and replaced if desired.further object of the invention is to provide such a generator with amaximum amount of surface exposed to the heating means, whereby thegeneration of steam may be very rapidly effected.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewthrough a generator embodying the invention.r such section being takensubstantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a, plan with the outer easing or cover for the generatorremoved.

Referring to the drawings. 1 designates a main or central heatingchamber which is provided at its lower end with a water inlet 2 and hasa steam outlet 3 at its upper end. At suitable intervals the centralchamber 1 is provided with a plurality of series of lateral ports et,which are connected with circulating tubes that will be hereinafter moreparticularly referred to.

The chamber 1 is preferably formed of a single tube and adjacent itslower end has formed thereon an exterior annular flange or abutment 5.

The chamber 4 is surrounded by a plurality of independently removableunits, each comprising an inner or central. sleeve 6, a-n outer annular.tubular, member 7 and a series of intermediate connected pipes or tubes8. The sleeves 6 of the several units are slipped over the chamber 1 andsaid sleeves are held in close contact with each other and with theflange or abutment 5 by means of a nut 9 which is fitted over thechamber 1 and engaged with a suitable thread 10 formed thereon.

The tubes 8 of each unit are preferably welded to the sleeves 6 andouter members Z and the passages in said sleeves with whichSpecification of Letters Patent. Patented June 14, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 397218.

said tubes aline are in communication with the ports a1- in the sidewall of the central chamber 1. Means that will be hereinafter moreparticularly described are provided by which water will be returned fromthe annular, tubular member T of each urit to the lower end of thechamber 1 so that the sired circulation through the generator may bemaintained.

ln the particular embodiment of the iuvention illustrated, each tubularmember T is provided with four outwardly ending tubes 11, which theironta' ends are connected with sleeves 19. that surround a tubular header13 which is connected with the lower end of the central header orchamber 1 by pipes 1li. The cuter headers 13 generally similar to themember cor ing the central chamber 'l being elo both ends and thesleeves in' proper position thereon l erally similar to the nut S),before to. rlie headers serve as a leans porting the generator on asiitable brackets 1-6 being shown as arranged beneath them.

Preferably the meeting` eral sleeves G, 12, are of the form shown Ysothat they will overlap one another and suitable packing 17arrangedbetween 2;. ately adjacent the connectA` g so that escape ofends of the sevsteam or water from the generator is effectuallyprevented.

Preferably the garra-tor is nclosed within a suitable casingl 18 and issupported by the brackets above vapor burner or other source of heat 19.

rllhe Several parts may be formed of env suitable material, the centralheader or chamber 1 beine` formed from a f' le tube which is closed atthe ends ext un' the water inlet and steam outlet and will be seen thatthe water introduced into such chamber will be caused to circulateradially outward through the tubes 8 into the annular chamber 7 and fromsuch chambers through the tubes 11 outer headers and return pipes 14. Bythis means the water is divided into a relatively large number of smallbodies.y in passing through the tubes 8, all of which are exposed to theheat rising from the burner 19. The steam generated in the lower heatingunits will be superheated in passing through the upper units and by theconstruction shown and hereinbefore described it is possible to veryquickly generatesteam of a very high pressure. The tubes radiating fromthe central header or chamber l are all inclined downward as are alsothe tubes 1l connecting the annular chambers 7 and the outer sleeves 12which facilitates the circulation.

As above stated, it is preferred to connect the several tubes to thesleeves and chambers by welding but, of course, there can bemodification in this respect if desired. Also while the drawingsillustrate what is considered to be a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is not intended to limit the invention to all ot thedetails shown as there can manifestly' be considerable modiiication andchange without departing from the spirit 'of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: Y

l. A steam generator comprising a central header or chamber having awater inlet, a steam outlet, and a plurality of series of ports in itsside wall, a plurality of superposed units each including a sleeve,fitted about the central header, and an outer tubular member surroundingsaid sleeve and connected thereto by a series ot radiating conduits,each sleeve having ports communicating with one of the series of portsin the side of the central header, and means for conducting water tromeach tubular member to the central header.

. 2. A steam generator comprising a central header or chamber providedwith an exterior abutment adjacent its lower end, and having a waterinlet, a steam outlet, and a plurality of series of ports in its sidewall, a plurality of superposed units each including a sleeve fittedabout the central header, an outer tubular member surrounding saidsleeve and a series of tubes connecting said sleeve and member, eachsleeve having ports communieating with one of the series of ports of thecentral header, means for conducting water trom each tubular member tothe central header, and means for holding the sleeve of said units incontact with each other and against the abutment on the central header.

3. A steam generator comprising a plurality of superposed units, eachincluding an annular tubular member having a plurality of inwardly andoutwardly radiating tubes connected therewith,.a sleeve common to all ofthe inwardly radiating tubes, and a sleeve at the outer end of eachoutward radiating tube, a central header extending through all of saidinner sleeves and provided with a water inlet, a steam outlet and portscommunicating with ports in each of said inner sleeves, means forholding the several units together with the outer sleeves thereof incommunicating relation, and conduits connecting` the outer sleeves ofthe lowest unit with the central chamber.

4. A steam generator comprising a central header or chamber having anexterior abutment adjacent its lower end, and provided with a waterinlet, a steam outlet and a plurality of series of ports in its sidewall, a plurality of superposed units, each including an annular,tubular, member having a plurality of inwardly and outwardly radiatingtubes connected therewith, a sleeve common to all of the inwardlyradiating tubes and a sleeve at the outer end of each outward radiatingtube, said inner sleeve surrounding the central header above theabutment thereon and each communicating with one of the series of portsin the side wall of said chamber, means for holding said sleeves aboutthe central header in contact with each other and with the saidabutment, means connecting the superposed outer sleeves, and conduitsconnecting each of said series of outer sleeves with the central header.

5. In a steam generator,.the combination of a central header or chamberprovided with an exterior abutment near its lower end and having a waterinlet, a steam outlet and a plurality of series of lateral ports, aplurality ot units each comprising a sleeve fitted about the centralheader and anannular, tubular member' connected to said sleeve by aseries o1 radiating tubes, the meeting ends of adjacent sleeves havingoverlapping portions, packing rings arranged between sai-d sleeves,means for holding said sleeves in contact with each other and againstsaid abutment, and means for conducting water from the outer member' ofeach unit to the central header.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

`THOMAS J. MODONALD.

